System and methods for providing predictive traffic information

1. A method for providing predictive traffic information to global positioning satellite systems on board vehicles, comprising: a plurality of GPS-enabled vehicles, each estimating at least one travel route comprising a plurality of road segments and estimating arrival and exit times for the vehicle in each road segment; calculating an initial road capacity for each road segment based on the at least one travel route, the estimated arrival and exit times for each road segment, and at least one static parameter; updating the initial road capacity estimates for each road segment based on at least one of at least one dynamic parameter or at least one catastrophic condition relating to the at least one travel route; statistically polling a plurality of GPS-enabled vehicles, wherein said statistically polling comprises data including a number of vehicles on at least one travel route in a given geographic region and the time estimates for when each vehicle will arrive and exit each road segment of the at least one travel route; and calculating predictive capacity estimates for each road segment for at least one future time interval based on said statistically polling and the updated road capacity estimates.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising: sending the predictive capacity estimates to the plurality of GPS-enabled vehicles; and said GPS-enabled vehicles re-calculating the at least one travel route and the arrival and exit times for the vehicle in each road segment.

3. A method according to claim 1 , comprising calculating predictive capacity estimates for each road segment for at least one future time interval based on said statistical polling and at least one of at least one static parameter, at least one dynamic parameter, or at least one catastrophic condition.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the static parameter comprises at least one of the configuration of the at least one travel route, posted speed limits, number of turns, number of traffic lights, turns in the route, number of traffic signs, or type of traffic signs.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the dynamic parameter comprises at least one of weather conditions, traffic flow conditions, road conditions, congestion, construction, or detours.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the catastrophic condition comprises a road closure, accident, flooding, sink hole, snow closure, or a fire.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one dynamic condition or at least one catastrophic conditions is obtained by accessing at least one of websites; weather sources; or state, local, or federal agencies.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one travel route is segmented into a plurality of segments based on length between at least one of intersections, traffic lights, traffic signs, or landmarks.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the initial capacity estimates are weighted for each road segment.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said statistically polling comprises polling different types of vehicles.

11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein said statistically polling further comprises polling the year of manufacture for the vehicles.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one future time interval comprises 15 minutes in the future.

13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one future time interval comprises 60 minutes in the future.

14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a driver of a GPS-enabled vehicle is given an option for responding to said statistically polling.

15. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a driver has an option of ensuring that said statistical polling is anonymous.

16. A method for providing predictive traffic information to global positioning satellite systems on board vehicles, comprising: a plurality of GPS-enabled vehicles, each estimating at least one travel route comprising a plurality of road segments and estimating arrival and exit times for each road segment; calculating an initial road capacity for each road segment based on the estimated arrival and exit times for each road segment and at least one of posted speed limits, traffic signs, or traffic lights; updating the initial road capacity estimates based on at least one of traffic flow conditions or weather conditions; statistically polling the plurality of GPS-enabled vehicles, including a number of vehicles on at least one travel route in a geographic region, each vehicle providing the at least one travel route and estimated arrival and exit times for each road segment; calculating predictive capacity estimates for each road segment for at least one future interval based on said updated road capacity estimates and said statistical polling; sending the predictive capacity estimates for at least one future time interval to a plurality of GPS-enabled vehicles; and said GPS-enabled vehicles re-calculating the at least one travel route and the arrival and exit times for each road segment.

17. A system for providing predictive traffic information to global positioning satellite systems on board vehicles, comprising: a processor for calculating predictive capacity estimates for future intervals for each road segment of at least one travel route; a Polling Tool for statistical polling of a plurality of GPS-enabled vehicles, including a number of vehicles on at least one travel route in a geographic region, each vehicle providing the at least one travel route and estimated arrival and exit times for each road segment; a Mapping Tool for mapping and analyzing at least one travel route, a Calculator Tool for calculating capacity estimates for road segments; and a Weather Tool for accessing websites or other data sources to obtain data regarding at least one of a dynamic parameter or catastrophic condition.

18. A computer program product, comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to: estimate at least one travel route comprising a plurality of road segments and estimate arrival and exit times in each road segment for at least one GPS-enabled vehicle; calculate an initial road capacity for each road segment based on the at least one travel route, the estimated arrival and exit times for each road segment, and at least one static parameter; update the initial road capacity estimates for each road segment based on at least one of at least one dynamic parameter or at least one catastrophic condition relating to the at least one travel route; statistically poll a plurality of GPS-enabled vehicles, wherein said statistically polling comprises data including a number of vehicles on at least one travel route in a given geographic region and the time estimates for when each vehicle will arrive and exit each road segment of the at least one travel route; and calculate predictive capacity estimates for each road segment for at least one future time interval based on said statistically polling and the updated road capacity estimates.

19. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the on-board GPS device provides data regarding the at least one static parameter.

20. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the on-board GPS device provides data regarding the at least one dynamic or catastrophic condition.